📊 Data: NCES CCD 2024–2025·🔄 Updated: May 2026·Editorial standards
🏆 Rankings · State Test Data (EDFacts 2017–18)

Best School Districts
in Colorado

Colorado has 168 rated public school districts. Rankings reflect state reading & math assessment proficiency, percentile-ranked within each state. Use the zip code search to find and compare districts near your address.

Advertisement
📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Colorado Sorted by rating — highest first
#DistrictCityRatingState Percentile
#1Cheyenne Mountain School District 12Cheyenne Mountain10/10  Excellent99th
#2Kiowa County School District No. RE-1Kiowa10/10  Excellent99th
#3Steamboat Springs School District RE-2Steamboat Springs10/10  Excellent99th
#4Edison School District 54-JTEdison10/10  Excellent98th
#5Branson Reorganized School District 82Branson Reorganized10/10  Excellent97th
#6Karval School District RE-23Karval10/10  Excellent97th
#7Kim Reorganized School District 88Kim Reorganized10/10  Excellent97th
#8Littleton Public SchoolsLittleton10/10  Excellent97th
#9Littleton School District 6Littleton10/10  Excellent97th
#10Ouray School District R-1Ouray10/10  Excellent97th
#11Boulder Valley School District RE-2Boulder Valley10/10  Excellent95th
#12Lewis-Palmer School District 38Lewis-Palmer10/10  Excellent95th
#13Telluride School District R-1Ophir10/10  Excellent95th
#14Academy School District 20Academy10/10  Excellent94th
#15Big Sandy School District 100JBig Sandy10/10  Excellent94th
#16Poudre School District R-1Poudre10/10  Excellent94th
#17Swink School District 33Swink10/10  Excellent94th
#18Salida School District R-32Salida10/10  Excellent91th
#19Douglas County School District RE-1Douglas10/10  Excellent90th
#20Weld County School District No. RE-2Weld9/10  Excellent90th
#21Aspen School District 1Aspen9/10  Excellent89th
#22Kit Carson School District R-1Kit Carson9/10  Excellent89th
#23Liberty School District J-4Liberty9/10  Excellent89th
#24Meeker School District RE1Meeker9/10  Excellent89th
#25Pritchett School District RE-3Pritchett9/10  Excellent89th

Best School Districts in Colorado (2026)

This ranking covers 168 rated public school districts in Colorado, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data for the 2017–18 school year — the most recent district-level federal collection we have processed. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.

A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →

How to Use This List

Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Colorado?
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), the top-rated district is Cheyenne Mountain School District 12 in Cheyenne Mountain, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated?
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores?
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.